Ready to explore CAIS?

Register for an Admissions Event

Go 
Further

How Far Will You Go?

Give your child a truly global education at CAIS – the United States’ first Mandarin immersion school. Our early childhood through 8th grade program helps students connect with their roots while preparing them for the future. 


CAIS is now accepting applications for our 2026-2027 school year. 

Talk to our admissions team to learn more!

Register for an Admissions Event

Come Explore CAIS

The best way to know what CAIS can offer you is by joining us on campus for an event. We have a few options for you to get to know us. Complete the form below to register for an opportunity to join us!

CAIS
101

Face to Face with CAIS

Campus
Tours

Our CAIS 101 series allows families to come on campus to hear from current parents, students, and teachers.

One of our most popular event formats! CAIS invites you to hear from a panel of our CAIS subject-matter-experts—our 8th graders and alumni—about their individual experiences. 

There’s no better way to envision your family joining our community than to experience it yourself. Come tour our new 19th Avenue campus.

Registration will be open later this year

Register for an Admissions Event

Join Us on Campus

Register for an upcoming admissions event and get to know the CAIS community firsthand.

CAIS in Point

44

86%

6:1

years of innovation

of 8th graders who meet the benchmark to teach Mandarin

student to teacher ratio

(the first Mandarin immersion school in the US)

3

18

international travel opportunities

average kindergarten class size

(in 5th, 7th, and 8th grades)

Visit Us

A World-Class Campus At Home in San Francisco

We have been making our new 19th Avenue campus our home – and we can’t wait to show you around. This 5+ acre space offers exceptional learning opportunities including larger classrooms, a state-of-the-art fine arts building and theater, an art studio with two on-site kilns, a dance studio, a multi-purpose athletic facility with a full size indoor basketball court, soccer pitch, and so much more. It’s one of San Francisco’s best places to learn, play, and connect with the community – and we know your family will love it.

Come Tour our New Campus

Why Mandarin Immersion?

CAIS blends the best of both worlds by teaching in both Mandarin and English, allowing students to grow fluency – and confidence – in both languages. We do this in a setting that prioritizes overall academic achievement and offers opportunities to learn about Chinese culture, both through everyday learning as well as through global travel experiences.


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 Our Academic Programs

Early Childhood
Preschool and Kindergarten

Your CAIS journey begins with our fun and engaging preschool program that introduces Mandarin through play based learning that integrates early learning in math, literacy, music, science, social and emotional learning, art, and more. Preschool is full immersion. As students move into kindergarten and 1st grade, we continue to build a strong foundation in Mandarin as well as general academics and grow each child’s confidence in conversational Mandarin. 

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Lower School
1st to 5th grade

Our Lower School follows a 50/50 immersion model, alternating Chinese and English instruction days with lead teachers in each language. We teach core subjects as well as art, music and movement, physical education, and coding. Students in Lower School are encouraged to practice their language skills through public speaking in order to build confidence. Our 5th grade program culminates in our students’ first trip overseas to Taiwan.

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Middle School
6th to 8th grade

Our hands-on, minds-on, interdisciplinary curriculum allows middle schoolers to apply concepts to their own lives, their communities, and the world. In 7th and 8th grades, we travel as a class to mainland China to put our learning into practice and grow our global perspective.

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Inside CAIS

Learn about CAIS from the experts: the students, parents, and alumni who’ve experienced our school firsthand.

“Our kids thrived at this school. It is an immersion in both the language and culture of China. It's rigorous, but in a way that we found age-appropriate. The required international trips are magnificent.”

Parent of CAIS Grads

“My school is very inclusive and diverse. The classes are small and tight-knit. Though I have been challenged, I have never fallen through the cracks. The teachers are very supportive here to anyone who needs help… I love CAIS, and I am very thankful that my parents chose to send me here.”

CAIS Middle School Student

“My husband and I are ethnically Chinese and my in-laws do not speak much English. It is very important for us that our children are able to speak directly with their grandparents without a translator so that they may have meaningful, authentic relationships.”

CAIS Parent

“While learning Mandarin is our top priority for our children’s elementary school education, our goal has always been for our children to attend independent high schools and colleges in the U.S. We are confident that A will be a strong applicant for high-performing private high schools and colleges from his preparation at CAIS. His bilingualism and biliteracy will be a bonus at that point.”

CAIS Parent

“Every staff member we have interacted with has shown how much they genuinely care for the growth and well-being of our children. E's classes are stimulating and she is constantly encouraged to challenge herself.”

CAIS Early Childhood Parent

“We have the kids do the traditional Chinese thing of calling the parents of classmates "Auntie" or "Uncle," but it does truly feel as if we are one large family and raising all these kids together. At CAIS, we are not just a village, but an extended family!”

CAIS Parent

Join the CAIS Community
 

Early Childhood Center (Preschool 2, 3, 4, and Kindergarten)

Lower School (1st-5th)

Middle School (6th-8th)

3250 19th Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94132

415-865-6000

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